Love on the land

Single women are being asked to throw their hands in they air if they would like to marry an Aussie farmer - a big call considering we're in a drought.

The Farmer Wants a Wife has 12 eligible bachelors all looking for sincere women to come live on the farm. Nine insists the show isn't a competition so much as an opportunity to meet some, well, fresh meat...

The guy pictured here is Farmer Jon, 28 of Deniliquin. he lives on 6000 acres of irrigation and grazing country, with sheep, cattle and cropping. He wants a woman who is "loyal, kind, considerate, honest, has a sense of humour. Age isn't a real issue to me, but someone who is preferably 25-32."

The show's website has information and video footage of the blokes who have had no luck in finding a prospective partner.

I wonder if anybody knows how Outback Jack is faring, given the premise of that Nine show was fairly similar? Did he stick with his lucky lady?

The Farmer Wants a Wife is only looking at matching partners of the opposite sex, so Farmer Dave from Dancing with the Stars and Big Brother is out of luck again.

Press Release:

The Farmer Wants a Wife Calls For Single Women Looking For Love.

Are you looking for the perfect partner? Are you looking for love and romance? Are you looking for a life on the land with the man of your dreams?

Life is tough for men on the land – they face not only the drought, but terrible isolation. It’s almost impossible for farmers to meet the woman of their dreams.

The Nine Network is offering some of our most eligible farmers a solution to their ‘love’ problem with the charming new program The Farmer Wants a Wife, produced by FremantleMedia Australia.

The Farmer Wants a Wife is a feel-good story of love and romance. This is not a competition. There's no prize money and the only winner in the end... is LOVE. We simply follow the story of Australian farmers meeting new women, exploring new relationships and trying to find their soulmate. This is a love story and we are calling on single women across Australia to be a part of it.

If you are a single woman yet to be swept off her feet and looking for a new adventure we want to give you the opportunity to be a part of this program. Head to The Farmer Wants a Wife website to read the profiles and watch the video packages of the 12 farmers who are looking to be struck by Cupid’s arrow.

ninemsn.com.au/thefarmerwantsawife (The website will be live until 9.00am Monday May 21)

If any of the single farmers on the website capture your eye or imagination, drop them a line and tell them about yourself. From the letters that are sent in, each farmer will pick a number of women he would like to meet and take on a date, and even visit with him on his property.

Now is not the time to be shy, this is a rare opportunity to meet genuine, hardworking Australian men who are sincere in there quest for a life-partner. The Farmer Wants a Wife is a FremantleMedia Australia production for the Nine Network. Read more...

Lisa Wilkinson joins Today

Lisa Wilkinson, co-host of Seven's Weekend Sunrise has quit the network to take up the weekday role of Today co-host on the Nine Network.

In a move on what is shaping up as the busiest 24 hours of network changes so far this year, Wilkinson will replace fill-in host Kellie Connolly, who in an unrelated moment fainted on screen this morning.

Wilkinson, who has a background as Editor of Cleo and Dolly, has attracted high praise for her on-air credibility. She will be the fifth co-host for Karl Stefanovic who has previously presented with Tracy Grimshaw, Jessica Rowe, Sarah Murdoch and Kellie Connolly.

Wilkinson takes up the role from May 28.

Seven will now look to fill her chair on Weekend Sunrise after her final episode this weekend (Jessica Rowe anybody?).

Wilkinson was also one of the names rumoured to be joining Larry Emdur on the upcoming Seven morning programme, said to be called Brunch.

Press Release (NINE):

The Nine Network Australia today announced that Lisa Wilkinson will join Karl Stefanovic as co-host of the TODAY show.

Nine’s Director of News and Current Affairs, Garry Linnell, said Wilkinson, the former host of the Seven Network’s Weekend Sunrise program, would join TODAY from Monday, 28 May 2007.

“Lisa is a proven on-air talent with a strong journalistic pedigree,” Linnell said. “Her warmth,empathy and intelligence are ideally suited to a program like TODAY.

“We have exciting plans for the show and Lisa is the perfect addition to a team which has already taken enormous strides forward this year.”

Nine’s TODAY show has made significant gains in audience this year, with a nine per cent rise year-on-year between 7am and 9am, and a 16 per cent hike in the key 6am to 7am news hour.

In contrast, Sunrise has slumped four per cent year-on-year in the 7am to 9am timeslot.

Lisa Wilkinson said: “Breakfast television has become one of the hottest timeslots on TV –and the success of Weekend Sunrise since we launched two years ago convinced me that I wanted to do more. So when Channel Nine suggested doing what I love five days a week,instead of just one, it was, ultimately, impossible to refuse.

“This wasn’t a decision I took on my own, though. With three young children, and a husband (journalist and broadcaster Peter FitzSimons) doing breakfast radio, it was a decision for the whole family. But it made sense. And while I know the 3.30am starts won’t be easy, at least we will all be working to the same early-to-bed body clocks.

“We also have great family support, and both Mel Doyle and Wendy Harmer have often told me over the years that the breakfast slot is one of the most child-friendly in the media for a working mum.

“There’s no doubt I have much to learn in the times ahead, but I’m incredibly excited about the challenge and feel really honored to be joining the TODAY show team at such a very special time in the show’s history – its 25th anniversary.

Linnell said he wanted to thank newsreader Kellie Connolly for the job she has performed as interim host of the TODAY show.

“Kellie has done a great job in the TODAY role and she has shown that she has a big future with Nine.

“We are planning to broaden her contribution and we have several exciting roles in store for her,” Linnell added.

Press Release (SEVEN):
The Seven Network today wished Lisa Wilkinson all the best in her future career at the Nine Network.

Lisa – currently co-hosting Weekend Sunrise – will finish up with Seven this Sunday. Seven will announce the new permanent co-host to join Andrew O’Keefe on the timeslot-dominating Weekend Sunrise in coming days.

Commenting, Seven’s Director of News and Public Affairs, Peter Meakin, said “We’re sorry that Lisa has decided to leave. We would like to thank her for everything she’s done for us. No hard feelings.”

Sunrise dominates breakfast television for the year-to-date. Sunrise is up 62% on Today across 6:00-9:00am. Next week, Sunrise celebrates three consecutive years of week-in, week-out leadership – having moved passed Today on Nine in the same week in 2004.

Seven is the leader in news and public affairs in Australia. Seven News leads Nine News for the year-to-date. Seven News is up 210,000 viewers on Nine News, an 18% audience advantage. Today Tonight leads A Current Affair for the year-to-date. Today Tonight is up 180,000 viewers on ACA, a 16% audience advantage.
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GTV Manager quits Nine

After word yesterday that Gary Pert, Managing Director of GTV9 Melbourne would adopt a position as CEO at Collingwood Football Club, today the Nine Network has announced Pert is quitting Nine.

Pert was only in the role for nine months after successfully helming Melbourne Austereo stations FOX FM and MMM.

Nine Network Australia, Executive Director, Jeffrey Browne, said: "Nine appreciates Gary's contribution to the Network and understands that he wishes to pursue a change in his career. We wish him well in this endeavour. We are fortunate to have Tony Shepherd who will assume many of the duties previously allocated to Pert's position."

As part of a restructure Nine will not reappoint the Managing Director role, an interesting move given a station the size and history of GTV.

No doubt all these changes will ricochet onto Eddie McGuire and continued speculation about his own position as Nine's CEO.

McGuire is also Collingwood's President.

Press Release:

Today the Nine Network Australia announced that Gary Pert would stand down from the role of Managing Director, Channel Nine Melbourne (GTV).

Pert has decided to pursue a full time career in football administration with the Collingwood Football Club.

Tony Shepherd will continue in his role as Station Manager of Channel Nine Melbourne.

Shepherd will assume responsibility for the day-to-day operations of GTV as the Nine Network does not propose to replace Pert's role of Managing Director in Melbourne.

This structure will be similar to the model of Channel Nine Brisbane (QTQ) and is in line with the Network’s management objectives.

Nine Network Australia, Executive Director, Jeffrey Browne, said: "Nine appreciates Gary's contribution to the Network and understands that he wishes to pursue a change in his career. We wish him well in this endeavour. We are fortunate to have Tony Shepherd who will assume many of the duties previously allocated to Pert's position.

Of his time at the Network, Pert said: "It’s been a fantastic opportunity to work with such a great team of people at Channel Nine. I have no doubt that Tony and the Executive Team will maintain the performance and culture that GTV9 is famous for."

Pert will leave Channel Nine Melbourne at the end of this week. Read more...

Out: The Nanny. In: McLeod's

More boning, I mean schedule amendments, at Nine who is pulling The Nanny off air as of Monday morning.

Repeats of the sitcom which had been screening at 11:30am only returned only ten days ago.

Now Fresh will return to its 30 minute format (currently one hour at 12pm) in its place.

In place of Fresh is a repeat of McLeod's Daughters series one.

So what are we to deduce from all this? That Fresh Cooking with the Australian Women's Weekly isn't working as one hour? That The Catch-Up needs a stronger lead-in in order to survive? That Nine should never have dropped The Young & the Restless?

You decide.

If nothing else it shows some indecision on the part of Programming. Just one day after announcing Bert's Family Feud is going, it's all a bit of a worry.

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Kingswood Country reunion

Pickle me grandmother!

The cast of Kingswood Country reunite for this weekend's edition of Where Are They Now?

The sitcom was a huge hit back in the 80's, famously racist, sexist and about as offensive as you could get.

On set are all the gang from Wombat Creek: Ross Higgins, Judi Farr, Laurel McGowan, Peter Fisher and Lex Marinos.

The show was another from the hugely successful gag writing team of Gary Reilly and Tony Sattler (Hey Dad, Naked Vicar Show). Both Noeline Brown and Kevin Golsby join reunion too.

WATN even brings back part of the sitcom's set. You'll just have to sit through David Koch doing his bestest comedy schtick. Hmm.

Also on the show is a reunion of the original Girlfriend members, one of whom admits she is now teaching Poledancing! The girls also sing their single, "Take It From Me."

And there's a satellite interview with The Young Ones' Nigel Planer ("Neil.")

Surprise guest is a filmed sequence with Cindy Williams from Laverne & Shirley.

And memo to the Producers: Can we have less canned laughter please?

Where Are They Now airs 6:30pm Sunday on Seven.

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BB: Nick In, 'Special' out

Nick, a 25 yr old male nurse from Victoria is the winner of Big Brother's Golden Ticket contest and has entered the house.

He is the first openly gay contestant in the house this year.

Nick was one of five finalists who randomly won a prize draw in a Special which aired last night, but the Behind Big Brother Australia site is carrying fan criticism that the finalists were clones of BB stereotypes.

Meanwhile TEN has dropped a special scheduled for next Wednesday at 7:30pm. It has been pushed back to May 23rd.

Instead, it will air a repeat of Oprah's look at The Secret. Ratings for BB continue to freefall, with the 7pm edition this week attracting figures under the 1M mark.

Nick is described as "a cynical, non-conforming, assertive, open-minded, and impulsive male nurse, who is unlikely to be walked over in the house. He is energetic, dominant, persuasive and strong willed. He readily asserts his views, but has difficulty relating to other’s views. Nick also exhibits a strong social presence and prefers to be a leader. He isn't particularly concerned about criticism, and tends to externalize blame. He will manipulate, without vicious intentions, but will also take vicarious pleasure from others attempts at manipulation."


Big Brother Watch.

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Today host collapses

Kellie Connolly this morning fainted on the set of The Today Show.

Connolly was filming a cooking segment but began to feel weak, and was assisted by Richard Wilkins.

During the incident Connolly remained conscious, saying she thought she would need a sugar fix and suggested going for a walk outside.

The programme moved to a commercial break to attend to the host.



But she was back on air within fifteen minutes, attributing the turn to early morning rises. She denied any talk of pregnancy.

Connolly has attracted positive feedback for her stint that saw her move from News to Co-Host after Sarah Murdoch finished her fill-in stint for Jessica Rowe. Read more...

Thu May 10

[SciFi/8:30pm] Who Wants to be a Superhero? Premiere. With Stan Lee.

[SBS/10:05pm] Wilfred. Repeat season. "There Is A Dog" Ep 1. Adam can hardly believe his luck when he's invited home by Sarah - a gorgeous young woman he met at a Powderfinger concert. This joy is quickly turned on its head when he meets Wilfred - Sarah's cantankerous canine who is determined to make him feel as uncomfortable as possible. This might be cute and everything on the first night but when Adam and Sarah start a serious, live-in relationship, Wilfred turns up the torment meter in his quest to drive Adam out of the house. Eventually, Adam is forced to question his sanity after spending whole weeks embroiled in an ongoing psychological war with a nine-year-old dog who thinks he's five. (Commissioned by SBSi, in English) (Comedy Series) (Rpt) MA (L,D) CC WS
[SBS/10:35pm] The Grand Finale - The official 2006 World Cup film. It provides a compelling look, in a close-up, intimate style, at the players and fans as they face the triumphs and adversities of the beautiful game. This is football as it has never been seen before. Featuring exclusive interviews with Didier Drogba, Horacio Elizondo, Thierry Henry, Jens Lehmann, Michael Ballack, Hidetoshi Nakata and 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro. The film shows unseen and exclusive footage of the tournament - different camera angles, incredible sounds from the pitch and an insight into the colour provided by the fans on the terraces. Directed by Michael Apted and narrated by Pierce Brosnan. (From the UK, in English and Spanish, English subtitles) (Documentary) (2006) G

[Seven/8:00pm] My Name is Earl
[Seven/8:30pm] Lost. ENTER 77. Locke, Sayid and Kate investigate a bizarre structure surrounded by farm animals and meet its strange inhabitant. Meanwhile, Sawyer competes in a ping-pong competition to get back his belongings.
[Seven/9:30pm] The Amazing Race: All-Stars. Double episode.

[Nine/7:30pm] Getaway
[Nine/8:30pm] RPA: Where Are They Now?

[Ten/7:30pm] Jamie’s Chef.
[Ten/8:30pm] Law and Order: SVU. "Outsider"
[Ten/9:30pm] Law and Order: CI “Privelege.” Guest Stars: Doris Roberts

[ABC/8:30pm] Wildlife In A Warzon. It's been 15 years since scientist Sanjayan Muttulingam has been home to Sierra Leone. Just like Sanjayan, you'll be surprised and in awe at what he discovers.
[ABC/11:30pm] Live At The Basement : Janis Ian. Janis Ian is an artist known for her ethereal vocals, poetic wordplay and sublime melodies. Tonight's performance was recorded live at The Basement in Sydney. Rpt.

[31/10:30pm] Studio Q. 'Navigaytion 2007' Pt 1. This episode features interviews with a couple of Melbourne-based 'cruisers' on the ship; we also have a very queer send-up of the 'Titanic' movie; and we find out what some of the entertainers were up to while they were on board. Read more...

Syd / Bris: Heroes, Lost, Race moving

Save the cheerleader, save the world?

In Sydney and Brisbane you'll be saving her on a new night: Thursdays.

In two weeks' time Heroes is moving and it's having a flow on effect that will bump other programmes.

Here's how it shakes down:


Wed 23.
8:30pm Movie: Finding Neverland.

Thu 24
8:30pm Heroes
9:30pm Lost
10:30pm The Amazing Race-All Stars.

Wed 30
8:30pm Air Crash Investigations.
9:30pm Prison Break

Whilst the changes coincide with the State of Origin on Nine Wed 23rd, the shift for Heroes in Syd / Brisbane will be a permanent move.

As a result, Family Guy will be rested in those markets until The Amazing Race ends.

Normal programming continues in other capital cities.

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Eurovision: UK "Flying the Flag"

Oh dear. Poor old England has sent in Bucks Fizz, or possibly Hi-5 or even Mile High.

This is one of the most banal hands-in-the-air songs in years. The whole thing is a tacky airline parody with two guys, two guys and not much in between. I think they assume it's infectious but it's a lot more grating than that.

The lyrics for "Flying The Flag" by Scooch include such lines as Flying high in Amsterdam, Why don’t you catch us if you can, Now we’re cruising in the sky, And we’re singing it for you and that's without the interjection lines like Would you like something to suck on for landing sir?

And this from the same country that gave us The Beatles, Elton, David Bowie, Queen, Kate Bush, Radiohead... well you get the drift.



How will commentator Terry Wogan apologise for this shambles? Britain is automatically through to the Final as one of the Big Four.

Time to overhaul the system!

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